Woman still kept rice pilaf late husband bought. Then she discovers what her boyfriend did to it: ‘His response was all I ever needed to know’

Alyssa Griffin recently shared a deeply touching ‘That’s my why’ story on TikTok. The post highlighted how grief can shape a person. Griffin shared four photos that tell a story of love, loss, and the incredible partner she has found in her life today. The first photo shows her with her late husband, Jonathan Sales. She added the on-screen text, “He passed away at 26 years old. One of the last things he bought from the grocery store was rice pilaf which I still have.”

The second photo introduces her current boyfriend, Gregory Gisolfi, and notes that the two recently moved into a new home. The third image is the box of rice pilaf, rolled in bubble wrap. She wrote, “When I unpacked the rice pilaf (the one my husband bought years ago). Greg has meticulously wrapped it in a bubble wrap so it wouldn’t get damaged in the move.” The final photo shows a glimpse of their home with the caption, “That’s my why.”

According to PEOPLE, that small box of rice pilaf sat in Griffin’s pantry for years. Jonathan had bought it before he died of cancer in February 2020. Griffin noted that the rice represents the ordinary moments she misses most. Things like cooking dinner together after work or deciding on a show to binge. It was a reminder of a normal life with him. Every time she organized her pantry, she noted that she kept the box. For her, it was a tangible reminder that Jonathan had been there.

Moving on from a loss

The outlet reported that Griffin met her current boyfriend, Gregory Gisolfi, in 2021 through Bumble. She was honest about her past, and Gisolfi, who lost his own father at a young age, understood that her late husband would always be a part of her story. 

Griffin told PEOPLE, “His response was all I ever needed to know, he said, ‘If someone can’t see past another person’s tragedy, then they don’t deserve to be with that person. Also, no one should ever expect you to stop loving [Jonathan],’” 

She further shared with PEOPLE, “Although this act of thoughtfulness did not surprise me because Greg is a kindhearted human, it did remind me of how truly lucky I am. I have found a person who loves me and truly sees me. He understands that a box of rice pilaf is important to me and took time out of his day to meticulously pack it in bubble wrap.”

Jonathan Sales was a middle school science teacher. Griffin described him as a self-proclaimed nerd who loved Star Wars, video games, pizza, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Boston Bruins. He supported Griffin in every way, showing her what true love looked like. After he passed away, Griffin told PEOPLE that she struggled with the loss of the future they had planned together. 

She now reportedly describes herself as a disco ball. “The glass is broken, but it is rebuilt into something beautiful; it’s not the same as it was before, but it still sparkles. Greg has never made me feel anything less than a beautiful disco ball, even in my lowest moments.”

This viral post has garnered over 2 million views. It also resonated deeply with many people who shared their own experiences in the comments. One user wrote, “My late husband passed in 2017. When I met my current husband, he said ‘I’ll never ask for your whole heart cause I know half of it is buried in Memphis. I just want to love the half you still have’ on our first date. I snot cried in his truck. We’ve been married five years now. That’s my why.” 

Another user commented, “My husband’s wife passed away at 26. We are naming our daughter after her. To be loved is to be remembered.” Others shared similar stories of blended love and remembrance, with one user noting, “My husband always suggests that we take a little of my late husband’s ashes on a trip with us so he can experience it with us,” and another adding, “My husband had the diamonds from the engagement ring my late fiancé gave me, made into a necklace for me.”

Griffin continues to honor the promise she made to Sales to “Be Happy,” even having those words tattooed on her side. She believes that Sales would be proud of her today for continuing to live her life while keeping his memory close. 

Grief hits people in many different ways. Last year, when talking about her late husband, Aubrey Plaza provided a ‘dumb analogy’ for grief that was heartbreaking, by comparing it to the movie The Gorge. Olivia Munn also recently talked about Shannon Doherty, and how, through the grief, the latter’s parting words helped her with her fight against cancer.